Touch Me I'm Going to Scream // [Stucky]

Chapter 23 Part 2

Bucky would've liked to say he was surprised to find Stark and Barton in the room when he got out of the shower, but that wasn't the case anymore. And after all, J.A.R.V.I.S. did tell him that Stark wanted him to get clean before he went to the medical wing.

"Sorry, bird-boy wanted to tag along," Stark clarifies as Bucky dries his hair with a towel, already having dressed in the bathroom in the clothes Stark sent him.

Bucky can't but notices how the room feels completely different from the first time he was here. That time it had been a prison, no doubt about that, but now is a haven. Here he can't hurt anyone else. The feeling's enhanced by Stark and Barton not being processed as a threat by his brain.

Bucky has the feeling Barton isn't here just to wish him a speedy recovery. He sits on the bed and waits for Barton to ask. It doesn't take long and he's grateful for that.

"What happened?" Bucky had expected Romanov to be the one to come and ask or even Stark, but no one had come to interrogate him until now—and he wouldn't even call this an interrogation.

Bucky weighs up his options; it doesn't take him long to reach the conclusion that he doesn't have any.

"They had my trigger words." This stuns the two men into silence, even when they must have already guessed more or less what happened in the Tower.

"Not everyone in HYDRA knew about them, not even all of my handlers. I think the notebook was lost, or a handler decided he didn't want to share and hid it somewhere decades ago." Bucky makes a pause and casts a look at Barton's face and then Stark's. They appear a bit pale. He adds after a beat, "Even I had forgotten about them."

Bucky makes another pause when Barton parts his lips, but Stark beats him to it. "You burnt the notebook," he says as if a puzzle piece has fallen into place. Bucky nods and averts his eyes to his lap.

"I'm sure someone managed to make a copy or two." Bucky lets that sink in, lets them realize what it means. He can never be trusted all the way.

Stark had talked about getting him into the real world again, about getting him a psychologist... But who would accept being in the same room as a man that turns into a berserker the moment someone recites a handful of words? Apart from the two idiots in front of him. Steve had been the smart one for once and decided to stay away.

Bucky clears his throat not so subtly and rubs a hand through his stubbled chin. The atmosphere has turned awkward but neither one of the three of them seem to know what to do about it. Bucky can't be bothered to do something, he's worn out.

"Stark brought you flowers," Barton blurts and that gets Bucky's attention. He glances at Barton as he shrugs and next at Stark, looking like a fish who just got pulled out of the water. He splutters for a moment until he gathers his wits.

"I did not bring him any flowers." Stark tries to say something else but it's jumbled and doesn't make any sense. He shuts his mouth, defeated this time. "Not that it would be a bad thing; I'm in contact with my feminine side, mind you."

Barton snorts. "Flowers aren't for us guys, too? Damn, that's sexist, Tony."

Stark glares at him and tells him to shut up. "Fuck you," he adds for good measure.

"I like daffodils," Barton informs them, "and my birthday is in a few months."

Stark's already opening his mouth to retort but he quickly changes his mind. "J.A.R.V.I.S., write that down."

"Done, sir." After this, Stark exits the room. Bucky frowns at Barton, but Stark returns just a few seconds later, this time with a trolley. Bucky sees the flowers Barton mentioned but then realizes there are at least three bouquets, what seems to be a plushy, and other little boxes he can't identify from where he's sitting.